Hekani Jakhalu urges Nagaland youth to explore entrepreneurship and alternative livelihoods at a job and career fair in Toluvi.
DIMAPUR — Advisor for Industries & Commerce Hekani Jakhalu on Friday urged young people to explore entrepreneurship and alternative livelihood opportunities, stating that government employment alone could not meet the aspirations of Nagaland’s growing educated youth population.
She was speaking as the special guest at the inauguration of a two-day Futsal-cum-Job and Career Fair organised by the NPF Dimapur-III Youth Wing AC in collaboration with YouthNet at Toluvi village ground.
Jakhalu said the establishment of the Nagaland Staff Selection Board (NSSB) had changed the government recruitment process and described the situation as a potential blessing in disguise, encouraging young people to look beyond government jobs and explore other avenues for livelihood.
Expressing concern over educated youth seeking lower-level government posts despite holding graduate and postgraduate qualifications, she urged them to consider entrepreneurship and other opportunities that could help them become self-reliant.
She maintained that government initiatives alone would not be sufficient unless young people were willing to step outside their comfort zones and make use of available opportunities.
The Advisor also stressed that elected representatives could not provide financial assistance to everyone seeking help, adding that the focus should be on enabling people to become financially independent.
Jakhalu said her commitment had always been to work for young people, but engaging them remained a challenge despite efforts by various organisations and government departments.
She noted that many young people possessed talent but lacked exposure and opportunities, adding that her role was to guide, mentor and support them in realising their potential.
As Advisor for Industries & Commerce, she said the department had organised workshops, skill training, awareness programmes and other interventions across Nagaland, including in villages, to ensure that government support reached young people.
The job fair, she said, was intended to bring companies directly to the constituency, enabling young people to learn about employment and training opportunities without having to travel elsewhere.
She encouraged participants to inform their friends, neighbours and fellow residents about the event so that more people could benefit.
She also urged participants to avail themselves of the medical camp organised alongside the fair, emphasising the importance of prioritising health and undergoing regular check-ups.
Interacting with media persons after the programme, Jakhalu said engaging young people had remained challenging over the past three and a half years, despite visits to villages to understand their needs.
On attracting investment to Nagaland, she said securing investors was among the key responsibilities of the Industries and Commerce Department.
She had reached out to companies across the country, many of which had expressed interest after learning about the state’s potential. However, converting that interest into actual investment remained difficult.
She pointed out that businesses operated on commercial considerations and required assurances that their investments would be secure.
Issues relating to the Protected Area Permit (PAP) and other requirements, she added, had made it difficult to convince investors to commit resources to the state.
On traffic congestion, Jakhalu said the Purana Bazaar stretch remained congested for commuters travelling from the city.
She said Bamunpukhuri Road was developed during her tenure to improve last-mile connectivity to Toluvi Industrial Park and link it to the four-lane highway.
The road was also intended to provide an alternative route for commuters and help decongest the city, she added, noting that the improved connectivity had made travel more convenient.
Jakhalu, who represents Dimapur-III Assembly Constituency, said her responsibility was to improve people’s lives through developmental projects and other initiatives.
Acknowledging that her nearly four-year tenure had been demanding, she thanked the people and leaders who had supported her work.
A short speech was also delivered by NPF Dimapur Division president Vihoshe Awomi.
The two-day event will feature 34 futsal teams competing for the championship, alongside the job and career fair, where companies and government departments will provide information on employment, skill development and career opportunities.